5 ancient legends to explain natural disasters

In Japan, there is a widespread belief that is rooted in the country's mythology, which sees a mythological creature living beneath the crust of Japan and capable of triggering earthquakes with its tail flicks: we are talking about Namazu 鯰, the enormous catfish that traditionally causes earthquakes in Japan.

According to legend, beneath the surface of Japan hides this gigantic catfish named Namazu, who is kept at bay by the god of thunder, Kashima, who has placed a gigantic stone above his head and whose job it is to guard the catfish. Namazu lives in the mud, below the earth, and his movements are restricted by a large stone controlled by Kashima. When Kashima leaves his guard post, the fish gets agitated and shakes its fins, causing violent earthquakes.

In the Maori creation myth, the sky father Ranginui and the earth mother Papatuanuku separated to create earth and sky and allow light to enter the world.

After Rangi and Papa were separated from their children, Rangi wept and his tears flooded the earth. To put an end to this, the sons decided to turn Papa face down, so that Rangi and Papa could no longer see each other's pain. Rūaumoko was at his mother's breast when this happened, so he was transported to the world below.

Now in the dark and cold, Ruaumoko received fire for warmth and became the patron deity of volcanoes and earthquakes. When he woke up, he caused terrible eruptions and had to be put back to sleep with his mother's lullaby.

According to Iroquois mythology, tornadoes were actually Dagwanoenyent, the daughter of the wind spirit. She was said to take the form of a whirlwind. The Seneca tribe considered her a dangerous witch and believed she could not be killed. Anyone who angered her was picked up and thrown many miles away.

In other legends, she was still considered fearsome, but could be summoned into battle by anyone who knew the right song to sing to her. It is also said that she gave a pair of brothers three hairs from her head, which allowed them to draw rain from the sky whenever they needed it.

Raijin in Japanese mythology is the name for the god of thunder and lightning. The name is derived from the Japanese word rai (thunder) and shin (god). 

It is said that Raijin was born from the divine couple Izanagi and Izanami after the creation of Japan. The thunder god was created from the decaying body of the goddess Izanami when she was in Yomi, the land of darkness.

Raijin is often depicted with a fierce and frightening expression and a muscular body with flowing, light hair. He is surrounded by Taiko drums that he plays to create the sound of thunder. The deity holds large hammers that he uses to play them. In some cases, Raijin is portrayed with three fingers that are said to represent the past, present and future.

Hurakán is a Maya deity. His name is derived from the Quiché language, a variant of Maya: 'jura', meaning one, and 'kan', meaning leg, i.e. 'he who has one leg'. He is one of the 13 deities who participated in the creation of man from maize, a legend written in the sacred book of the Maya, the Popol Vuh.

When he becomes enraged, no one can control his rage. He descends from the clouds on his one leg and his foot, equipped with prominent claws, destroys everything in his path. This is the colossal power of the 'Heart of Heaven', better known as Hurakán, the god of wind, fire and storms.